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Another new season underway.

In the EBBL reigning champions Mortal Wombats suffered a surprising defeat away to T20. Are they going to be able to win a third title, or will we see someone else take the crown?

The NT and U21 played their last scrimmage before the competitive games begin. arrows won re-election as U21 manager with 80% of the vote. Let's hope for strong seasons for both national teams!

The first game is in the books, and it's a win for both NT and U21. In previous seasons MVP voting engagement was a bit weak, so instead this season we'll get ChatGPT's take on the games:

NT

D. Smith (SF): Smith's performance was quietly impactful. He put up 10 points, hauled in 6 rebounds, and facilitated 2 assists. Smith's defensive presence was a standout, making a critical block that shifted the momentum. With a formidable plus-minus of +21, he proved to be the unsung hero of the game.

M. Bañuelos (PG): Bañuelos orchestrated the game with the precision of a conductor guiding an orchestra. His 13 points were accompanied by 7 assists, showcasing his ability to create opportunities for his team. Although he had 2 turnovers Bañuelos was the floor general, dictating the game's tempo with finesse.

D. Curran (PF): Curran dominated the interior, contributing 15 points and securing 7 rebounds. His prowess at the free-throw line (5-6) was instrumental. With a remarkable plus-minus of +20, he was the linchpin of the team's success. Curran's defensive tenacity earned him the nickname "The Guardian of the Rim," as he deterred opponents with his formidable presence.

U21

D. Firosh (SG): Firosh had an impressive game, scoring 22 points while shooting efficiently from the field (60%). He also contributed with 4 rebounds and 1 assist, and his plus-minus of +22 indicates that the team performed exceptionally well when he was on the court.

M. Williams (C): Williams had a strong performance in the paint, scoring 15 points and grabbing an impressive 11 rebounds. He also had 4 assists and 2 blocks, making him a key contributor on both ends of the floor.

C. Timko (PF): Timko's performance was notable as well. He scored 9 points, but his impact was felt defensively with 5 blocks, showing his ability to protect the rim. His plus-minus of +23 also indicates his positive influence on the team.

A narrow defeat for the NT in a tough away game vs Romania.
A comfortable victory for the U21's against Albania.

NT

J. Kemp had an outstanding performance in the game, leading all players with 34.9 fantasy points. In the actual boxscore, he contributed with 19 points, 2 rebounds, 5 assists, and a couple of steals. Despite committing one turnover, Kemp's scoring, playmaking, and defensive prowess made him the standout performer in the game. His contributions were instrumental in his team's effort, showcasing his versatility on both ends of the court.

U21

C. Timko delivered an exceptional all-around performance in the game, earning a remarkable 58.8 fantasy points. He contributed significantly with 12 points, pulled down an impressive 14 rebounds, dished out 6 assists, recorded 2 steals, and swatted away 5 blocks. Timko's dominance on both ends of the court made him the standout performer, leading his team to a well-deserved victory.

A bit late but I just remembered the team picture for s62, hopefully it's accurate - (https://i.imgur.com/hSoglN3.png)
We had a strong season, I believe it was the best performance in the Europe U21 Championship Tournament for thirty seasons or so. Unfortunately we failed to qualify for the second round - Greece, Germany and England all ended with six wins, and the following PD - 174, 173, 173. So a tie with Germany, and we finished third due to scoring fewer points.

Half the squad were playing their second season for the U21's - Firosh, Ko, Miyazaki, Soar, Coldwell, Orville, Williams.
We also say goodbye to Clint Timko, who completed an incredible third season for our country. With his low potential he won't get the chance to play for the NT, but he still has many seasons ahead with my Utopia team.

Some leaderboard achievements from this squad:

Appearances - career:
Clint Timko (40, 1st)
Dharmaputra Firosh (33, tied 3rd)
Lee Coldwell (32, 5th)
Grant Miyazaki (31, tied 6th)
Hieronymus Orville (30, tied 8th)

Points - career:
Dharmaputra Firosh (494, 1st)
Buster Ko (394, 7th)

Points - season:
Dharmaputra Firosh (264, 3rd)
Buster Ko (244, 6th)

Rebounds - career:
Clint Timko (341, 1st)

Rebounds - season:
Clint Timko (156 in s61, tied 4th)

Assists - career:
Clint Timko (144, 1st)

Assists - season:
Clint Timko (62 in s61, 7th)

A big thank you to everyone who trained players, almost every player in the squad made important contributions last season. Special thanks to js8, who did a great job with his three guards. And Zeus who did most of the work training Williams and McGoldrick. As always if you would like to get involved, please message arrows or myself, we'd love to have more interest in the U21 team.

===

Back row (left to right):

Duncan Abbot ((51527097)) Sertor
Dharmaputra Firosh ((51394563)) Wānaka Lakers
Aiden Gillies ((51394635)) Tide of Fire
Buster Ko ((51394577)) Wānaka Lakers
Sushaant Malhotra ((51912589)) Preparatoria Shohoku
Grant Miyazaki ((51394716)) Wānaka Lakers
John Rummens ((51397305)) Yamaguchi-gumi
Derek Soar ((51394705)) Expatriots
Gavin Tilly ((51527024)) Sirvena

Front row (left to right):

Lee Coldwell ((51394899)) Dartmoor Pumas
Keith McGoldrick ((51394726)) Element Bulls
Hieronymus Orville ((51394660)) Dartmoor Pumas
Clint Timko ((51394707)) Dartmoor Pumas
Matthew Williams ((51394877)) Dartmoor Pumas

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Last edited by testudo at 12/16/2023 19:35:16

Some interesting suggestions in that thread. I'd have to think about it more but having a few leagues with promotion/relegation might have potential. There would be fewer uncompetitive games where Italy plays Scotland or whatever, and it would give small nations a more tangible goal to work towards.